Hello and thank you for accepting me into your Group.
Here is my dilemma, I am a novice and infrequent knitter but decided I would attempt a cable sweater. All had gone well until I reached the Shape Raglan Armholes and the instuctions now have me foxed.
I have attached a couple of pics detailing instructions, which I hope will be of some help. As I understand it, 8 rows form the Back pattern but the instructions for the Raglan Armholes appear to be a repeat of only rows 1-3. Surely, if I do that, the cable section will not be complete/matching?
I am loathe just to try as, if incorrect, I will need to unpick and I usually end up dropping stitches in the process.
I hope someone more experienced can help point me in the right direction.
Thank you for reading this and hope it does make some sort of sense.
Hello
Working a cable sweater can be tricky but it sounds like you’re doing great
You’re right to stop when something doesn’t sound quite right. This could be a good time to put in a life line so that if anything goes off track during the raglan, or you don’t like the size, you have a safe place to frog down to.
The pattern looks fine, it just takes some practise of reading patterns to become more experienced in understanding them.
You stopped on a wrong side row at the given measurement, whatever number pattern row that was you must continue with the next row in the 1 to 8 repeat pattern, these 8 rows are abbreviated to “patt”.
Shape raglan
Row 1 patt and dec 1 stitch at each end of row
This means work whichever row you need to from your 1 to 8 pattern, it might be row 1, 3, 5 or 7, just whichever you are up to.
You will decrease 1, work the pattern row taking into account there is 1 st fewer at the beginning of the row, and dec 1 at the end.
Row 2 is again a decrease at the beginning, work whichever row of the pattern is next taking into account 2 sts fewer at the beginning of the row, and dec at the end.
Row 3 no dec, work the next row of your pattern taking into account 2 sts have been decreased each end.
Then you repeat this cycle of decrease rows, always working your patt 1 to 8 throughout.
You might want to write these down so you can keep track.
Working a pattern with decreases is harder than a straight body, take your time and look for where the cables need to be to keep them aligned.
Good for you for venturing into cable knitting. I hope it’s been enjoyable so far.
Just wondering, what is the name of your pattern and designer? And which size are you making, 1st, 2nd or 3rd?
Hi, and thank you for your message - I am attempting the Cable Sweater from Sue Bradley’s Cotton collection book and knitting the 2nd size. I have knitted in cable before but not for some time; it does seem that I have misunderstood the instructions and that all 8 rows must be continued, with the decreases on specific rows.
Thank you again for taking the time and trouble to reply,
Good for you for recognizing the misunderstanding. Have fun with the rest of the sweater!
[For the second size, unless there is something elso going on before the decrease directions, the final stitch number is not correct. The pattern says 46sts but the actual number is 44. No matter as the sts are cast off in the next step.
